Insulating a Slipform Stone House

[ad_1] There can be no question that insulation should be of primary importance when considering new house construction. Slipform stone houses are no exception to this rule. Helen and Scott Nearing, early proponents of this stone building technique, claimed that their New England homes were comfortable year-round without much thought given to insulation - indeed, their first slipform home was built right into a Vermont cliff-face, and made use of bare ledge as one wall. While the thermal mass of the earth itself surely served to maintain house temperatures above freezing, by modern standards, there can be no doubt that this uninsulated stone house would make for a chilly winter. Insulation is key to efficiency, and there are a number of ways to insulate a slipform stone structure. Stud Wall and fiberglass batting One common approach to the question of insulation in stone and concrete structures is the construction of a standard framed stud wall against the interior wall. This framed wall is then insulated in the traditional manner, using fiberglass batting insulation between the studs. While this approach works fine, and brings the comfort of familiarity to many builders, the construction of the stud wall is wasteful, and the studs themselves present the opportunity for thermal bridging, significantly reducing the overall insulation of the house. Rigid Insulation Rigid insulation offers a number of opportunities when it comes to insulating slipform stone homes. Rigid insulation, correctly installed, allows for no thermal bridging and creates a tight envelope inside the house. There are a number of techniques for building this type of insulation right into the walls themselves, either by laying the insulation inside the forms as you build, or replacing the interior forms entirely with nailbase - rigid insulation mated with OSB, plywood, or even sheetrock on one side. Adding rigid insulation after the walls are standing can present a challenge to the typical owner/builder. The biggest hurdle here is figuring out how to secure the insulation to the stone/concrete wall. One of the best ways to do this is using furring strips - narrow boards attached to the wall, into which screws can be driven. A powder-actuated nail gun, or ramset can be used to attach the furring strips to the wall. Another approach is to embed the furring strips into the concrete itself as you build the walls. The downside to this approach is that the furring strips will degrade and rot away over the decades, leaving gaps in the wall and weakening the overall structure. Fully removing the furring strips and replacing them could be a challenge. Spray-on Insulation This nifty product could be used to spray a seamless layer of insulating foam directly onto the interior of the slipform wall. The insulation would then be cut, sanded, or squashed flat before a finish layer of sheetrock is applied. Both of the above approaches present difficulties when it comes to hanging anything on the walls, as there are no interior studs for screwing or nailing into. Strategically placed furring strips could be used for this purpose. There are any number of other conventional and unconventional approaches that you might pursue in insulating your slipform stone masonry structure, but these three options are both simple to implement and proven in many homes over a number of years. Whatever you decide, it's very important to ensure that your slipform stone house is snug and well insulated. [ad_2] Source by Rick R Young https://1home.streamstorecloud.com/insulating-a-slipform-stone-house/?feed_id=36965&_unique_id=6467d4965bdff

Home and Gardening Flower Box and Other Accents

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Technology offers a lot of innovation in today's method of accentuating our home with gardening. There are various ways on how we can make some wonderful home interior arrangements. We just need some gardening boxes or ornaments to complete the theme.

Flower box is the most widely used container gardening method to give our home a greener touch. We can either buy container boxes or make some customized window boxes for our window ledges. To create such a wonderful style for our container boxes, we need to select a matching flowering plant to the box theme. Selection would need to be more bountiful blooms of flowers that could cover most part of the box. It really gives a stunning look to the design if the flowering plants will cover most of the box design. If you want to have a designer box instead, you can choose to trimming the plant or pick one that does not have an overflowing bloom.

Planter box is another one gardening decoration that we could include in our home improvement plan. It happens to have different varieties and that includes the commercial planters. Commercial planters are normally big and the name itself tells that it is designed for business buildings. Mostly it placed on the lobbies and patios. Restaurants, hotels, and malls are usually using commercial planters to give the building the environmental look and concept. Other planter boxes would include the wooden, PVC planters, fiberglass and illuminated planters.

Another accent that we can add to our home and garden is the hanging basket. Hanging baskets are normally plain and we just have to develop the flowering plant that goes well with it. Mostly bountiful flowering plants are used for hanging baskets such as supertunias, sunsatias, and kalanchoe.

Terrariums are one of the newest modern home and gardening ornaments that are not yet being used by most people. It is actually an aquarium but is improvised and made as a container gardening box. There are different types of terrariums namely, bubble, globe and hanging glass terrariums. They can be either attached on the wall or hung on the ceiling.

All these ideas are possible if we just open our minds to innovation for home and gardening.

[ad_2] Source by Ernestus Penuela https://1home.streamstorecloud.com/home-and-gardening-flower-box-and-other-accents/?feed_id=36960&_unique_id=6467cf3d0d918

New technology at McGhee-Tyson Airport to streamline security checks - WATE 6 On Your Side

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A Few Home Inspection Plumbing Basics

[ad_1] When a home inspector inspects a home, plumbing is one of the critical systems he examines for his report to you. Naturally, one of the first things he will do is to check faucets and fixtures, looking for leaks. According to the American Water Works Association, almost 15 percent of all the water used in a typical household is wasted through plumbing leaks, leaky faucets and wasted water. Finding and fixing leaks will save money on water and energy bills. Furthermore, water damage to floors and the foundation is all too common and must be dealt with to prevent further problems. Also, though it sounds silly and unnecessary at first, your home inspector will make sure cold water comes from the right side and hot water from the left when faucets are turned on. That's the conventional standard. You wouldn't want anyone to be surprised by getting scalded in the shower because they thought they were turning on the cold water. Your inspector will check the type and condition of water pipes, which are usually made of copper, brass, or galvanized steel. Copper is the most desirable material, with brass next, and galvanized steel the least desirable. Copper is best for water distribution piping. It lasts the longest and is usually trouble free. As for brass pipes, mineral content in the water affects their durability. White mineral deposits on brass pipes means there are pinhole leaks. This shows the pipes are deteriorating and may need replaced at some point in the future. Galvanized steel pipes corrode on the inside which constricts water flow. It's like trying to merge three lanes of highway traffic into two or even one. When these pipes are in poor condition, using more than one water fixture at a time causes problems. For example, if someone is taking a shower, avoid flushing the toilet, using the dishwasher or the washing machine because the shower will either become very hot or cold. When you're purchasing a home, your inspector should tell you what material the plumbing pipes are made of and what condition they're in. Replacing water distribution piping is quite costly, should it be necessary. Your inspector should also let you know about the water supply pipe that brings water into the home. Again, copper is the best material because, if the pipe is made of galvanized steel, it could have the same corrosion problem noted above. If this pipe is made from lead, excessive amounts of lead may be leaching into the water, which poses a health hazard. The best solution is to replace this pipe. However, this costs thousands of dollars. If contaminants such as lead are coming into the home's water supply, consider adding a water filtration system where water enters the building. Also consider adding a water treatment system in the kitchen where water is used for drinking and cooking. The water heater is another important item your inspector will check. If it's a gas water heater, it must be installed properly and allow for good ventilation. A metal flue pipe must let toxic gases flow up and out of the home through a chimney. Improper ventilation will result in accumulation of toxic and deadly carbon monoxide. If the flue pipe slopes downward it should be repaired and replaced. Heat from the water heater's gas combustion must rise upward, as it is meant to do. These are just some of the plumbing issues your home inspector's report will address. A home's plumbing is one of the most important areas in need of attention before a home is purchased or sold. Spotting and taking care of problems now will keep many problems in the future at bay. [ad_2] Source by David Haigh https://1home.streamstorecloud.com/a-few-home-inspection-plumbing-basics/?feed_id=36948&_unique_id=6466dfcf52ab4

Generators Plus

First aid Kits, Gardening tools, Weather radios, Baseball gloves

Gardening Tools

Weather Radios

Baseball Gloves

Value Added Business Services

Binoculars

Podcasting Equipment

Security Light Bulbs

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I’m the most-hated Walmart employee for never following the dress code – people say I might as well turn up... - The US Sun

A FORMER Walmart staffer has claimed that she’s the most hated as she never followed the retailer’s dress code. Carefree Davena Campbell was often seen wearing casual attire underneath her vest in clips that she shared online. In one viral TikTok clip, she decided to sport a casual white jumper, jeans, and a necklace. Davena's blue face mask was resting on her chin as she was seen dancing to the rapper Saucy Santana in the restrooms. The caption appeared: “Being the most hated Walmart worker for never following the dress code.” One TikToker, who claimed to be a Walmart worker, said: “We might as well show up naked to work with the dress code.” Davena seemed to shrug off the dress code as she said she wouldn’t follow it “again.” In another clip, she told fans that she had quit her job. Davena has since revealed that she has since joined the U.S. Navy and has offered fans an insight into life in the military. Walmart revealed in 2018 that staffers could wear jeans and shirts of any color or pattern. It meant that workers didn’t just have to wear blue clothes. Workers can also sport casual shoes or sneakers but must wear their vests and have their name badges displayed. But, staffers are banned from wearing loungewear such as leggings, according to Algrim. And jeans cannot have stains, rips, or ragged edges. Supermarket workers may be able to wear a company baseball hat. Bosses may request staffers who wear piercings to remove them for health and hygiene reasons. The U.S. Sun previously reported how Walmart staffer Ja’Kera Williams left fans stunned when she swapped her work attire for more casual clothes. And, another employee went to work on her day off and claimed she was dress-coded by the management in the store. A Walmart worker has opened up on the trick she uses to make her uniform more flattering. I look so flat from the front - but I have secret boobs when I turn to the side I have a dumpy bum - I spend my life covering it but trolls still come after me I wore skimpy swimwear in a family resort - it didn’t stop me wearing thongs I’m a DDD-cup - my mom says my tops are 'too booby' but I can't help it © 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP source https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/im-the-most-hated-walmart-employee-for-never-following-the-dress-code-people-say-i-might-as-well-turn-up-the-us-sun/?feed_id=36930&_unique_id=646558109bf67

Brown: Young and old have plenty to give in the world of fishing - The Pantagraph

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Evan Westendorf, 9, of Bloomington, holds up a large catfish he caught with his father's help at Miller Park Lake in Bloomington. Westendorf said he loves fishing. Fishing is one of those activities that participants can be involved in for a lifetime. Whether sitting on a bucket on a farm pond, dock or local city lake with minimal equipment, or taking it to the next level in competition and spending every available dollar on tackle, boats and gear means fishing has a place for just about everyone. Young anglers look at it differently than older ones, but it may be one of the only sports where no matter the age, the intrinsic value of just being out there has rewards for the old and the young. The “I wish I knew then what I know now” continues to evolve no matter the age, and unless you surrender to the La-Z-Boy, it is always a learning gig. "Some may know more but no one knows all" — that keeps all of us plugging. Science and Mother Nature evolves, too, and there is little doubt that figuring out the puzzle all the time isn’t in the cards. There are multiple stages in a fishing person's progression. It begins with secret baits and spots, then you find out there is no such thing as a secret spot or bait, then you get to the end phase where you're put out to pasture where the young folks try to push you to the side. Only the strong prevail through that. For all the old dudes out there still competing, letting them push you aside is a mistake. Drive, determination, passion and education can keep you in the game. The fish doesn’t know who is on the end of the line and there is so much that wisdom and time on the water can help to overcome youth. Youth and energy is a strong advantage, but wisdom and situational knowledge can help you overcome the achy joints and old bones. Sounds a bit like life. There is so much more than winning a few bucks or the tug of the line in fishing — there is life after competition, but I am not sure what that will look like. Even without tournaments, there are other things that can be done to keep yourself in the game. Most know those, but won’t give into the urge to compete both against the fish and the great group of anglers we have in the area. It's not in my makeup to surrender, so I don't see that happening soon. But having a full plate in the fishing industry is great, too. I have never wanted to be the expert in fishing and have taken the approach of wanting to speak with experts instead. No matter how old I get, I don’t see that changing. I get to talk to the old guys, the young guns and industry stalwarts almost on a daily basis and pick from the strengths from each. It’s not about me but rather passing on the knowledge that gives me the most pleasure. The old guys use their wisdom and seat-of-the-pants experience; the young guys use the technology and youthful exuberance; the industry leaders blend it into a business. What a great formula to keep learning! For some, fishing is weighed in checks earned and top finishes, for others it’s a combination of winning and camaraderie and yet for others it’s entirely about the experience. Outside of competitive angling the joy is having a good time with a buddy or family member, catching a fish of a lifetime or putting a few fish on the table to eat. Passing on knowledge and things that can make good anglers better is important. Some may aspire to be a professional angler — that was on my radar screen early on, too. But I found a niche that suited me better being in the media. The crossover in fishing to life and other sports would surprise many. No doubt fishing is a risk/reward business, and although it looks great from the outside, the rubber meets the road when things go south and an adverse year or two sets in. It can be like catching a baseball in the dark when things are not clicking, but being in the media, the room is always lit. No matter if you enjoy the game of catching little green fish or reporting on those who do fishing as a sport, it’s my hope to always be involved in both aspects. There is no doubt our kids and their kids need the outdoors more than ever before. It is still amazing to see the face of a youngster catching their first fish. That wide-eyed smile is unforgettable. Natalie Phelps Finnie has been appointed the new Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources by Governor J.B. Pritzker pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate. Finnie served a state representative in the 118th District from 2017 to 2019 and has a Master's Degree nursing from Vanderbilt University. She has extensive background in biological sciences and conservation. We hope to work with her on management of our lakes and streams and those who participate in hunting and fishing moving forward. Terry Brown Local angler Taylor Umland looking for a spot to catch his next fish. Evan Westendorf, 9, of Bloomington, holds up a large catfish he caught with his father's help at Miller Park Lake in Bloomington. Westendorf said he loves fishing. Stephen Roberts, left, of Bloomington, helps his son Judah Roberts, 7, pull in a freshly caught catfish at a free fishing event Saturday at Miller Park Lake. From right, Jerome Marlett, 13, of Bloomington, holds up a catfish he caught Saturday morning at Miller Park Lake in Bloomington as family friend Luke Petersen removes it from his line. Michael Kletz, 8, of Bloomington, center, holds up a bluegill he fished Saturday morning out of Miller Park Lake in Bloomington. Stephen Roberts, left, of Bloomington, helps his son Judah Roberts, 7, unhook a freshly caught catfish at a free fishing event Saturday at Miller Park Lake. Terry Brown is President of Wired2Fish.com, an industry leading, daily website and social media fishing centered community that provides information on products, industry newsmakers and fishing techniques. You can read more by going to www.Wired2Fish.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Copycat products too common. Labeling and categorization by type/color is a way to manage all of it, but it also comes down to being able to get rid of some of it. Evan Westendorf, 9, of Bloomington, holds up a large catfish he caught with his father's help at Miller Park Lake in Bloomington. Westendorf said he loves fishing. Terry Brown Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. source https://4awesome.streamstorecloud.com/brown-young-and-old-have-plenty-to-give-in-the-world-of-fishing-the-pantagraph/?feed_id=36919&_unique_id=6463db649d8b1